Overview The Research Experience Scholars Program – a Roche international science education demonstration project – provides support for motivated, potential next generation researchers at the secondary school level by providing them with an opportunity for international exchange. Roche aims to help build the awareness and deepen the knowledge of students, academics and even the broader public, about modern life sciences and medicine and to expand the next generation’s curiosity in these areas of science. Corporate Responsibility Research Experience Scholars Program (RES) How does it work? When a German school in the proximity of the company’s site in Mannheim approached Roche, seeking collaboration for piloting a structured stu dent exchange in biotechnology, the RES concept was born. e aim of the exchange is to improve the academic training of the students through the expertise of the science and educational partners. Roche readily involved a local affiliate site in the US with existing relations to a matching school. Schools, university, industry and other support ing parties collaborate to make RES possible. e most decisive factor for ensuring the success of such an initiative, though, is, the determination and dedication of educators to coordinate among students, parents, industry and other supporters at every step. e two schools conceived the selection criteria and process. Key elements for eligibility are: • special interest in life sciences • proven record of high academic performance • demonstrated proficiency in the life sciences • maturity and exceptional communication skills e RES program enables 3 select students from the partnering schools in the US and Germany to experience a 6 – 7 week visit with their exchange school. A 5 week research internship at a reputable university is part of the program. Additionally, the RES families and school mentors ensure that culturally interesting trips and visits are under taken and at least one site visit to a major research facility of the industry sponsor can be realized. Results Since initiation in 2009, 4 consecutive exchange cycles have been conducted, providing 24 scholars valuable research and intercultural experiences. Students: Participating students have developed an under standing of scientific research in a university setting, which includes learning how to develop a research question, how to formulate an experi ment and how to collect and analyze data. In addition, the German students substantially enhance their English language abilities while experiencing life in a residential community, and the American students experience living and Key facts and figures • Since 2009 RES has directly involved 24 stu- dents (6 per year, 3 from each country), their schools, teachers, mentors and families. RES has been conducted by the Johanna Wittum School (JWS) in Pforzheim Germany and the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) in Hartsville, South Carolina, USA. • Academic collaboration partners realize the research internships. Mentors and facilities were provided in Germany first by the Univer- sity of Karlsruhe, then by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg and in the US by the University of South Carolina in Columbia. • Other collaboration partners assisted with program funding beyond Roche. In the US, the Greenville Hospital System (GHS) in South Carolina has supported GSSM, while the Ger- man Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and the Rotary Club Pforzheim have helped JWS. • Each year 1 or 2 site visits to scientific centers at Roche gave RES students, their teachers and mentors insights into “science at work” and biotechnological health care applications. • Annually, the involvement by the scholars has also yielded scientific publications on the project work • Almost all RES have progressed to studying science after completing school. RES 2009 doing a pipetting exercise at the JWS school lab in Pforzheim, Germany.